E-cigarettes an evidence update A report commissioned by Public Health England

E-cigarettes: an evidence updateSummary of findingsTwo recent worldwide media headlines asserted that EC use is dangerous. These werebased on misinterpreted research findings. A high level of formaldehyde was foundwhen e-liquid was over-heated to levels unpalatable to EC users, but there is noindication that EC users are exposed to dangerous levels of aldehydes; stressed micepoisoned with very high levels of nicotine twice daily for two weeks were more likely tolose weight and die when exposed to bacteria and viruses, but this has no relevance forhuman EC users. The ongoing negative media campaigns are a plausible explanationfor the change in the perception of EC safety (see Chapter 8).None of the studies reviewed above alter the conclusion of Professor Britton’s 2014review for PHE. While vaping may not be 100% safe, most of the chemicals causingsmoking-related disease are absent and the chemicals that are present pose limiteddanger. It had previously been estimated that EC are around 95% safer than smoking[10, 146]. This appears to remain a reasonable estimate.Policy implicationso There is a need to publicise the current best estimate that using EC is around 95%safer than smoking.oEncouraging smokers who cannot or do not want to stop smoking to switch to ECcould be adopted as one of the key strategies to reduce smoking related diseaseand death.Other health and safety concerns80